Find the words in the box in the text. Then complete the sentences.

Now scan the article and find the following.

1) four capital cities

2) two authors

3) a Russian ruler

4) the largest freshwater lake in the world

5) the most luxurious railway in the world

6) the longest railway (and its length)

7) the highest railway (and its height)

8) the highest tunnel (and its height)

Read the article again and answer the questions.

1) Why did the writer’s publishers finance his rail journeys?

2) Why was the toilet water heated on the Quinghai-Tibet line?

3) What did the writer like looking at most on the Quinghai-Tibet line and on the Trans-Siberian?

4) What sort of people travelled on the orient express?

5) What clues does the text give about the luxury of the Orient Express?

Find the words in the box in the text. Then complete the sentences.

1) She was tired after the long and _____________ journey.

2) We were impressed by the _____________ manners of the smartly dressed porters.

3) The age of the railway brought an _______________ of prosperity.

4) He was struck by the _______________ of the Blue Train, with its elaborate furnishings and en-suite bathrooms.

5) Breathing becomes more difficult at high ____________.

6) The ________________ travelled far looking for grass for their animals.

7) The historic ______________, Mallard, is the holder of the world speed record for steam locomotives.

8) He had always felt a certain amount of ______________ for his life on the railways.

5. Which of the railways in the article would you most like to go on? Why?

6. Look at the article and find different ways of talking about ability, possibility and obligation in the past. I was able to find ten amazing journeys... 7. Look at the statements and cross out the incorrect form. (In some cases, both are possible) a) We use can / could to talk about general abilities in the past b) We use must / had to to talk about obligation in the past. c) The past of can is could / was able to. d) We use managed to / could to suggest that we had difficulty in achieving the action. e) The verb manage to is similar to must / succeed in. f) We use the –ing form of the verb after manage to / succeed in.